Expansion-roll for sheet-metal-forming machines



E H. SCOTT. EXPANSION ROLL FOR SHEET METAL FORMING MACHINES. I APPLICATION FILED OCT. 16, I9I9. 1,360,450. Patented Nov. 30,1920

unma E IIAMISON SOO'IT, OE RICHMOND, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR T0 JOHNSON AUTOMOBILE SHEET METAL WORKS, OF RICHMOND, INDIANA, CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

EXPANSION-ROLL FOR SHEET-METAL-FORMING MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent. PatentedNov. 30, 1920.

Application fiIed October 16, 1919. Serial No. 331,099.

To aZZ whom it may concern: Be it known that I, E HARRISON Soon, a citizen of the. United States, residin in the city of Richmond, in the county of ayne, State of Indiana, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Exansion- Rolls for Sheet-Metal-Forming I achines, of which the following is a full, clear, and comprehensive specification and exposition, the same being such as will enable others to make and use the same with exactitude.

The object of my I present invention, broadly stated, is to provide an expansive and self-compensating roll, especially intended to be employed as a part of sheet metal forming machines, the same being strong and durable in construction, simple in character, compensating and effective in action, adapted to give the highest degree of efliciency in practice, and which can be manufactured, sold, and installed at acomparatively low price. I

My invention is especially intended to be incorporated with machines for forming automobile fenders, wherein sheets of metal are given longitudinal compound curves and cross sectional curves, as well as forming marginal flanges thereon, to do which a male and a female roll is employed, with sheets of metal adapted to pass therebetween. For accomplishing the purposes just stated the female rollis formed concave" and the male roll is formed convex, the v longitudinal curvature of each being substantially identical with each other, whereby they will nest together, and thefemale roll being provided with'e'nd flanges or abutments between which the ends of the male roll extends.

Means have heretofore been employed to retain the faces of the two rolls normally in resilient contact with each other, but no means have heretofore been employed to retain the ends of male roll normally in contact,or nearly so, with the flanges of the female roll. While the rolls are new this is not required, providing the length of the male roll is accurately gaged to the dlstance between the flanges of the female roll, so that the sheet metal will pass tightly therebetween. But the ends of the male roll and the inner faces of the flanges of the female roll soon become worn or the gage of the material may be changed, and then the mate and uneven. Therefore to compensate for said wear and changes in the gage is the primal object of this invention, which manifestly will insure a uniform and perfect product and at the same time contributing to considerablesaving in time and expense.

Other minor and subsidiary objects will suggest themselves to one familiar with the art, in the course ofthe following specification,and that which is new will be correlated in the claims, V

The means I employfor carrying out the objects of my invention in a practical and a mechanical manner are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section of the parts embodying the preferred construction of my invention. Fig. 2 is an inside elevation of p In order that the construction, the operation, and the advantages of my invention may be more fully understood and appreciated I will now take up a detailed description thereof, in which I will set forth' the several parts as fully and as comprehensively as I may. a

Referring now to'the drawings in detail,

numerals 1 and 2 denote the two spaced apart shafts, which are so incorporated into a sheet metal forming machine that they revolve in directions opposite to each other, and are retained in spaced relationshin with relation to each other.

As is shown in Figs. 1 and 2v my preferred construction includes a male roll, which includes two members 3 and 4, which are identical with each other, each being cup-shaped. and having the respective closed ends 5 and 6 whichare at right angles to the shaft 1. The inner ends of said members are open, with their edges adapted to contact with each other. Said members are mounted concentrically on the shaft 1, as hereinafter set forth. Extending inward around the shaft l from the respective ends 5 and 6 are the flanges 7 and 8. Each of the members 3 and 4 is adapted to have a sliding movement on and longitudinally 10, respectively. By the above it will be noticed that I provide a convex and hollow cone or roll, mounted slidably on the shaft 1, but at all times carried revolubly there with. Located in the hollow of the upper roll is a comparatively large expansion spring 12, which is spaced from but concentric with the shaft 1, with its end portions fitting around the flanges 7 and 8 and seated against the inner faces of the ends 5 and 6, whereby the members 3 and 4 are normally forced resiliently apart by the expansive force of the spring 12.

Rigidly mounted on the shaft 2 is the female or concave roll 11 which has end flanges 13 and 14: formed integral therewith. The space between the flanges 18 and 14 is only slightly more than is the length of the upper roll when the members 3 and 4 thereof are contacted with each other. Surrounding the shaft 2 and contacted with the ends of the roll 11 are the collars 15 and 16, and they extend outward to the bearings of the shaft 2 to retain the lower roll in proper position longitudinally.

In assembling the roll shown in Fig. 1 the members 3 and 1 are first clamped together, against the expansive force of the spring 12, and while in this condition it is inserted between the flanges 13 and 14:, and

then when the clamp is removed and the parts are otherwise arranged in operative condition the ends 5 and 6 will press resiliently against the flanges 13 and 14C.

The sheet metal to be formed is run between the rolls, thereby pressing the material into concavo-convex shape, with marginal flanges formed at right-angles to the shafts 1 and 2, the latter being. pressed between the ends 5 and6 and the flanges 13 and 14. By the above it is apparent that all wear of the ends 5 and 6 and of the flanges 13 and 14 and changes in the gage of the material will be taken up by the spring 12, whereby the pressure on the material will always be uniform and of the proper degree.

In Fig. i it is shown that i provide a solid upper roll portion A, of the same shape as the roll shown in Fig. 1, except that the main central portion is slightly shorter, with end plates 17 and 18 secured to each end of the body A, by means of the respective setsof screws 19 and 20. The thickness of said plates is such as to form the roll A of the proper length to fit between the flanges 13 and 14 as shown. Then as the faces of theplates 17 and 18 and the flanges 13 and 14 wear then the screws 19 and 20, or both, may be loosened and oneor more shims, such as sheets of paperor metal. may be inserted between the plates 17 and 1S and the ends of the roll A, after which the said screws should be tightened; this of course will compensate for the wear or when the final iess of the material is changed and permit the rolls to function as before.

I desire that it be understood that various changes may be made in the several details of construction without departing from the spirit of my invention and without sacriicing any of the advantages thereof which new and useful.

Having now fully shown and described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States,is

1. An expansion roll comprising apair of cup-shaped members bothmounted on a shaft concentrically thereof. with the edges of said members adapted to contact with each other, a spring surroundingthe shaft and located within said members and adapted to normally force said members resiliently apart, all substantially as shown and described and for the purposes set forth.

2. An expansion roll for sheet metal forming machines, in combination with a shaft, a pair of cup-shaped roll members formed identical with each other, both members being mounted concentric of and slidable on said shaft and adapted to be carried revolubly therewith with the edgesof said members adapted to contact with each other forming a hollow interior in the roll formed by said members, an inwardly extending collar integral with each memberof the roll and each surroundingsaid shaft, andan eX- pansion helical spring located in the hollow of the roll with its end portions fitting around the respective collars and adapted to normally force said members of the roll apart.

3. A construction of the nature set forth.

projecting out at right-angles thereto, an

expansible roll comprising a pair of cupshaped members both slidably mounted on the other one of said shafts and adapted-to be carried revolubly therewith with the edges of said members approaching near to each other, a helical spring located in said members and adapted to force said members into resilient contact with the flanges of the first mentioned roll.

1. In combination with a pair of spaced apart shafts located parallel with each other, a concave roll rigidly mounted on one of said shafts, end flangescarried by said roll and extending-out at rightsangles there to, a convex roll slidably mounted on the second shaft and adapted to be carried revolubly therewith with its surface in contact with the concave roll, said'second roll be ing divided circumferentially into two portions which are inflependent of each other,

a helical spring located within the two portions of the second roll and adapted to normally force the ends of the second roll into contact with the flanges of the first men tioned r011.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name to this specificatioflin the presence of two subscribmg wltnesses.

E HARRISON SCOTT.

Witnesses RoBT. W. RANDLE, R. E. RANDLE. 

